Al Scheer has been involved in the sport of wrestling most of his life. He began wrestling in his sophomore year in high school in Norwich, NY. Under the guidance of Coach Sam Elia. Following high school, Al served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. After his discharge Al wrestled at Alfred State for one year. ln 1957, Al married his wife Marlene and transferred to Cortland State where he wrestled for three years. Upon graduating, he began teaching elementary physical education in Oneonta, NY"”a career that lasted thirty four years. Along with teaching, he coached high school wrestling for sixteen years, producing a number of league and sectional champs including: Mike Sparaco, John Sparaco, and Jim Frusella. While attending graduate school at Cortland State, Al served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach. From 1977-1999, Al was assistant wrestling coach at Oneonta State and served as head coach during the '93-'94 wrestling season. During his twenty-two years at Oneonta State, he helped develop a number of all-State and all-American wrestlers including: Dave Regina (AA), Marat Lempert (AA), Byron Lake (ANYS), Todd Scorzafava (ANYS), and Dominick Caratola (ANYS). Al has received the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Award as well as the National Wrestling Coaches Award. He has always been viewed by his fellow coaches as a "true gentleman in the sport of wrestling." Among Al's mentors over his many years in the sport of wrestling were wrestlers Dick Erico (Alfred University) and Jack Stanbro (Ithaca College). Coaching mentors included Sam Elia (Norwich High School) and Al Sosa (Oneonta State). Since Al's retirement from teaching, he continues to be involved in the activities of his children (Jeffrey 47, Barbara 46, Eric 44, and Todd 37) and grandchildren. Al is involved in the Oneonta Boys & Girls Club wrestling program where two of his sons coach. He supports Oneonta Little League® where another son managed/coached baseball teams for many years and pee wee football in which another son coaches. He has been a participant in canoe races, mostly relays, for twenty years though, in recent years, he spends more time on a rowing machine than in the water. Al has been an inspiration to hundreds of student athletes during his long and rewarding career in wrestling. The New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of Al Scheer by inducting him into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.